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Arkansas has the nation's most restrictive abortion ban after the Republican-dominated state House voted Wednesday to override the governor's veto.

The measure, S.B. 134, bans most abortions after 12 weeks if a fetal heartbeat is detected, but it includes exemptions for rape, incest, if the the mother's life is at risk and disorders that would cause the baby to die soon after birth.

"The eyes of this nation (have) been on the Arkansas House of Representatives today. And the eyes of this nation [have] seen that people are ready for change," said the measure's GOP sponsor, Sen. Jason Rapert, the Arkansas Democrat reported. "Again, if there's a heartbeat, there's life and we're going to stand up for this law, regardless of who opposes it."

Last week, the Legislature overrode another abortion-ban veto by Beebe. That bill, H.B. 1037, bans most abortions after 20 weeks, with the same exceptions, and became law with the Feb. 26 override.

Of the 4,033 abortions in the state in 2011, 20% occurred at or after 12 weeks, according to the Arkansas Department of Health.

Beebe said he vetoed both measures because he believes they are unconstitutional and will result in expensive legal challenges.

Rita Sklar, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union for Arkansas, said the ACLU would file suit "as soon as possible.

Planned Parenthood condemned the veto override.

"We are deeply disappointed that the Arkansas Legislature voted to impose the most restrictive ban on safe and legal abortion in the country," Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, said in a statement. "The majority of Arkansans — and the majority of Americans — don't want politicians involved in a woman's personal medical decisions about her pregnancy. Gov. Beebe rightfully vetoed this legislation, and the Legislature would have been wise to let the veto stand as this bill is clearly unconstitutional.

"People in Arkansas and across America know that abortion is a deeply personal and often complex decision for a woman to make," she added. "This extreme legislation would insert politics into women's personal medical decisions."